DC Metro Action is a listing of local actions, entertainment, volunteer opportunities and the occasional rant on a wide range of socially just issues.
contact me at dcmetroaction@comcast.net
Action of the Day Many of these action alerts are found on the listservs and websites of organizations listed in our "Act Locally" section (Left).
Friday, June 30, 2006
Troops Home Fast
On Independence Day, Americans will express their patriotism with parades, barbecues and fireworks. But this July 4, Code Pink will fast in memory of the dead and wounded in Iraq, and will call for independence from war, and for our nation to be the democracy it was created to be, not an empire.
Hunger strikes have been used to change policy and social wrongs for hundreds of years. Fasters publicly denied themselves food on the doorstep of the person who committed an injustice because it was considered shameful for someone to come to harm in your home, especially for a crime you committed. That's why the Troops Home Fast will take place at Bush's White House doorstep.
What: Pre-fast ceremony with Diane Wilson, Dick Gregory, Cindy Sheehan, the Rev. Yearwood, Ann Wright and other notables, followed by a march to the White House When: Monday, July 3, at 2 p.m. Where: Gandhi's statue (Massachusetts Avenue and Q Street NW)
What: Last meal before the Troops Home Fast press briefing When: Monday, July 3, at 5 p.m. Where: In front of the White House
What: Fasting and promoting, learning, and sharing important information and skills about activism and the issues we all care about When: Tuesday, July 4, from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Where: In front of the White House
More Info: Visit TroopsHomeFast.org to read more about hunger strikes and fasts as tools for positive social change. Code Pink follows in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, suffragettes Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, Cesar Chavez, and many others. Contact Code Pink at 202/265-1671, ext. 3, or dc@codepinkalert.org.
Registered DC Statehood Green Party people and friends are invited to drink a refreshing cup of green tea with the Statehood Green candidates at Washington's first all eco-friendly store, Future Green. The slate of potential candidates will be there to discuss their platforms and election-year strategies. We say "potential" because they need YOUR signatures to GET on this year's ballot.
When: Sunday, July 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. Where: Future Green (1469 Church St. NW) More Info: Keith Ware at 202/234-7110 or Chris Otten at chrisotten2@yahoo.com
DC Books to Prisons is sponsoring "The Hardest Question Ever," a three-act play with live performers, chain-gang inspired music and shadow puppets set inside a life-size prison cell covered with hundreds of letters written by prisoners. The show aims to create a dialogue on how society encourages violence but punishes those who are violent.
The play portrays responsibility, forgiveness and the pain of loss with stories of actual events that are directly related to the creators of the play. A panel discussion will follow the performance. Admission is a $5 to $8 donation for DC Books to Prisons (but no one will be turned away for lack of funds). Bring a paperback dictionary to donate and receive awesome Books to Prisons goodies!
When: Friday, June 30, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) Where: St. Stephen's Church (16th and Newton Streets NW) More Info: bookstoprisons@mutualaid.org
I was standing in front of Union Station waiting for a bus, watching a couple of "Linda Cropp for Mayor" workers milling around. They were soliciting signatures on petitions to place Cropp's name on the ballot for mayor in September's election. As I try to carry an unapproachable swagger when in crowds, they stepped up to the gentleman standing next to me and asked if he was a DC resident. He answered yes, and was asked to sign "this petition for Linda Cropp." He said, "For what?" and was told "so her name can appear on the ballot." He again asked, "For what?" and was told "she worked under Marion Barry, so you know she'll do a good job." Apparently, that was all he needed to hear; the gentleman took the clipboard and pen, and signed. Interesting approach.
If you care more about our mayor being green than who they "worked under," check out the DC Environmental Network's Mayoral Candidates Forum, which will highlight key issues from the DC Environmental Agenda. Michael Brown, Chairman Linda Cropp and Councilmember Adrian Fenty will be there to talk about their ideas for a sustainable Washington.
When: Thursday, June 29, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Where: Howard University, Cramton Auditorium (2455 Sixth St. NW) More Info: Chris Weiss at 202/222-0746 or cweiss@foe.org
The Shondes are a queer and trans rock quartet playing driving rock music with classical influences and layered harmonies, and fueled by their radical politics and activism. "Shonde" is Yiddish for "disgrace, shame or outrage" and their music is about connecting with others who are "shondes" to the communities they come from, and about political risk and struggle.
The Shondes are heading out on their first national summer tour – "Disgracing Ourselves Across America!" – and the first stop will be in DC, where they will play with Odd Bones, the Degenerettes and Bitter Marisa.
When: Thursday, June 29 Where: Velvet Lounge (915 U St. NW)
Want films that make you laugh and inspire you to take action? Check out the DC premiere of the Media that Matters Film Festival, presented by Campus Progress. These short films by young, independent artist-activists tackle gay rights, poverty, life in the military, women's rights internationally, and tons more. Be one of the first in DC to see the films and connect with young progressives.
When: Thursday, June 29. Food will be served at 6 p.m.; screenings will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Where: Center for American Progress (1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor)
"I brought these groups together because I want to introduce more diversity in the DC music scene by bringing different types of music together." – Henry
6 to 6:30 p.m. – Poetry/Prose/Hip-Hop (open mic) 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. – La Nueva Cosecha (revolutionary folk from Latin America) 7:30 to 8 p.m. – Stone Gato (violin rock) 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. Cascade in Blue (soundtrack to the universe) 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. – Third Pulse (Ninjacore, reunion show)
$5/$10 with vegan dinner-n-drink. No alcohol. All age show.
When: Wednesday, June 28, starting at 6 p.m. Where: Before It's Too Late: the Peoples Media Center at Al Fishawy Cafe (4132 Georgia Ave. NW; between Upshur and Taylor Streets, Petworth Metro)
In celebration of Pride Month, Campus Progress and the Human Rights Campaign want you to come out and network with young professionals and interns. This networking event will bring together young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer professionals and their allies to discuss the role of GLBTQ voices in the progressive movement. Heavy hors d’oeuvres provided for your finger food fun. Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Independents and all others welcome.
When: Wednesday, June 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: The Equality Forum at the HRC Foundation Building (1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW) More Info: speakers@americanprogress.org
National Clean Money Day is Tuesday, June 27, and Common Cause and its coalition partners have scheduled house parties across the country. Clean Money Day will give thousands of Americans the chance to talk about money, politics, and how to reclaim our democracy.
The parties will feature screenings of a new film about Tom DeLay and his legacy in Washington. "The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress" draws the connection between money politics, political gerrymandering and corrupt lobbyists. It documents the stranglehold that money and power hold on our democracy.
Not all of the house parties are scheduled for Clean Money Day, and you can watch the film on any day. But on June 27, the house party guests and hosts will be able to call into a conference call with producer Robert Greenwald, Common Cause president Chellie Pingree, and others to learn more about the movie and the group's new campaign. You can get a list of nearby house parties here.
To encourage public participation in the celebration of World Refugee Day here in Washington, the UN Refugee Agency has partnered with the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to sponsor refugee performances, exhibits, discussion panels, congressional activities and a screening of the documentary film, "Refugee All Stars."
The following are free and open to the public.
What: An afternoon of musical and dance performances, exhibits and soccer activities for kids and the entire family. When: Saturday, June 24, from noon to 4 p.m. Where: National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall (1145 17th St. NW)
What: Refugee All Stars Live Performance When: Sunday, June 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. Where: Millennium Stage South Plaza Stage (The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW)
What: Screening of "Refugee All Stars" documentary film. When: Sunday, June 25, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Where: Family Theater (The Kennedy Center)
Four years after becoming independent, East Timor is again in the world's media. As violent conflict continues, the government has invited international troops to avert increased chaos and casualties. Is the poorest country in Asia on the verge of losing the independence, democracy and peace that its people won after decades of costly struggle?
The situation is complex – massive unemployment, historical rivalries, military schisms, ethnic conflicts, governance failures, post-traumatic stress, political agendas, misdirected international "aid" and past UN decisions all play a role. But it can be resolved.
Attend a discussion with João da Silva Sarmento, coordinator of the East Timorese Student Solidarity Council, an editor for the leading Timorese newspaper Suara Timor Lorosa’e and a researcher and board member at La’o Hamutuk, the Timor-Leste Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis. João is currently studying linguistics at the University of Hawaii.
The U-Liners, a roots-rock band based in the DC area, will play a special presentation when the band's founder, Joe Uehlein, receives the Joe Hill Award from the Labor Heritage Foundation. The band recently performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the Union Industries show opening reception. While playing a wide and deep repertoire of all of the forms of music that helped shape rock and roll, the U-Liners always incorporate political and message music into their performance selections. The event is free and open to the public.
When: Tuesday, June 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Where: The National Labor College (10000 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, Md.) More info: Elise Bryant at 202/637-3963 or Joe Uehlein at 202/256-7848
The DC Juneteenth Celebration and Music Festival commemorates the anniversary of the day, June 19, 1865, when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, to establish the Emancipation Proclamation as law in the last state of Confederate rebellion – two and a half years after the date of the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863). The 2nd annual DC Juneteenth event will celebrate the end of slavery with an afternoon of music, speakers, remembrance and fellowship hosted by Dr. Jared Ball (of Blackademics on WPFW).
Many of the sprawling houses in the DC area are being built by Quadrant Homes, a developer subsidiary of the largest lumber company in the world, Weyerhaeuser, with wood from the forested traditional lands of Grassy Narrows Nation.
The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) invites you to watch an amazing film about the resistance by an indigenous people to the clear-cut logging of old-growth forests on their ancestral lands. The screening is part of a national campaign to stop logging company Weyerhaeuser from destroying the ancient hardwood forests on traditional lands of the Grassy Narrows Nation in Ontario. "As Long as the Rivers Flow: The Grassy Narrows Blockade Story" is a Winnipeg Indymedia project directed by David Clement.
After the film, you're invited to stay for music, food, drinks and a discussion about the campaign and tactics with nonviolent direct action trainers, along with RAN organizers and Grassy Narrows activists on conference call. A $3 to $5 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away.
When: Wednesday, June 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Where: Before It's Too Late Peoples Media Center at the Al-Fishawy Cafe (4132 Georgia Ave. NW, Georgia Ave.-Petworth Metro) More info: maxitcesar@yahoo.com, 202/294-9202, www.FreeGrassy.org and www.ran.org
The Kennedy Center presents former Doors drummer John Densmore and master Persian musician Reza Derakshani for a musical collaboration that is at once haunting and spiritual, driving and hypnotic. They call their efforts "Peaceful Sounds from the Axis of Evil" because, as Densmore says, "This as a beautiful hybrid between two countries that are turning more and more bellicose."
"We're not politicians, but I wanted Americans to see the face and hear the sounds of the Iranian people," Densmore explains. "Music is non-verbal. It's direct and right to the heart, and we can commiserate through our thoughts and emotions."
With mutual respect and appreciation born of a chance meeting and impromptu jam, the two have produced "Ray of the Wine," an album of Derakshani's songs that John has arranged and produced, combining classic Persian sounds with jazz, rock, and folk. In addition to music from the album, Derakshani will recite Rumi, while Densmore will read from selected Iranian blogs in an evening that will start in meditation and end with dancing. Admission is free.
When: Wednesday, June 14, at 6 p.m. Where: The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage More info: Hen House Studios and John Densmore
On the surface, privatization may not look so bad. But delve deeper into this government's use of it, and it reeks of profiteering and mismanagement. I know it's a conservative way of thinking – smaller government and all that. But I doubt that Barry Goldwater thought it meant out-sourcing war, union-busting, and private armies patrolling the streets of New Orleans.
Here in Washington, the levees are breaking around our public schools, especially East of the River. The privatizers want us to believe that our only choice is between a decaying traditional public school system and unaccountable charter schools.
Join the Social Action & Leadership School for Activists (SALSA) and the Save Our Schools Coalition for a town hall meeting with community members, teachers, students and trade unionists as they share what they've learned about the privatization of our schools, with the SEED Charter Boarding School providing an example. Help take steps to stop the creation of separate and unequal school systems in DC. Your voices, talents and ideas are needed to rebuild our levee and our democracy.
This forum is free and open to the public, but space is limited so please pre-register with SALSA at 202/787-5229 or visit www.hotsalsa.org. Childcare will be provided.
When: Monday, June 12, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Where: Capitol View Library (5001 Central Ave. SE; Benning Road Metro)
"Code Pink needs you on Wednesday evenings for one hour to stand on the corner, share a moment of pink, and spread peace across our cities and towns! Wednesday Women Vigils for Peace take place around the country and maybe even the world between the hours of 5 to 7 every Wednesday evening."
When: Wednesday, June 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. Where: Pennsylvania Ave. and 6th St. SE More Info: www.womensayenough.org
Armageddon isn't likely to occur this week. I read an article over the weekend about one of those Internet betting sites that takes bets on everything and anything. (Will the winner of the US National Spelling Bee be wearing glasses? She wasn't.) They're laying odds against the end of the world happening on June 6, 2006 (6/6/6, the number of the beast.) Minimum bet is $500, and if you bet against Armageddon and we survive, you get back $500.01.
An even better bet is that there's a beast right here in Washington, leading the charge toward Armageddon. Lucky for us, we have our own armies fighting for righteousness, truth and justice – as shown in the latest action alert from StopTheWarNow.net:
"Members of the DC Anti-War Network, Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice, Women for Peace and Justice in Iran, World Can't Wait and other DC-area anti-war and peace activists will be rallying at the White House on June 6, 2006, calling for an end to President George Bush's drive for wars that could lead to nuclear apocalypse – to Armageddon. An ad hoc group of Atlanta-area anti-war activists will also hold a 'No Armageddon for Bush' rally.
"Join the rally, featuring a speak-out, a tug of war between good and evil, exorcisms of the White House, scary Bush and Armageddon outfits and much more. Expected counter-protesters include Little Friends of Satan (a.k.a. 'Freepers')."
When: Tuesday, June 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Where: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (McPherson Square Metro) More info: this website
In this town, vigils, rallies and marches are a dime a dozen. Just look at the list of vigils in the left-hand sidebar – we have no shortage of compassion or commitment. DC's activism is second to no one's, and it has always been a magnet for creative politicking. Even in the midst of this hyper-activism, one vigil stands out. The anti-nuclear vigil outside the White House has run continuously since 1981.
"On June 3, 1981, a pilgrim named Thomas sat down on the White House sidewalk with a cardboard sign, 'Wanted, Wisdom and Honesty,' to talk about truth, justice, freedom, peace, and the threat of nuclear war. Concepcion Picciotto also came to Lafayette Park and began working with Thomas in 1981. They are now world famous for their continuous presence, 24 hours a day, despite the whims of police and weather. Regulation writers and hostile police tried to drive Thomas and Concepcion away, and Thomas was sent to prison for three months in 1988. But perseverance, creativity, Thomas's lawsuits against police misconduct, and sympathetic friends have kept the vigilers north of the White House, touching the minds and hearts of many.
"Come to Lafayette (Peace) Park on this special anniversary, and speak ... sing ... chant ... recite ... drum ... dance your heartsong. Share YOUR ideas to help cure the world's ills!"
When: Saturday, June 3, from noon to dark – and beyond Where: Lafayette Park (16th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW) More info: 202/682-4282, prop1@prop1.org or www.prop1.org
Check out a night of foot-stomping, raise-the-roof songs of peace and justice with the D.C. Labor Chorus, a group of union activists committed to celebrating and sharing the rich cultural heritage of working people, particularly through song. "Bring on the Songs" will raise money for the Labor Heritage Foundation's John Handcox Fund, providing scholarship assistance for union and community activists, cultural workers, artists, labor educators and youths to participate in the Great Labor Arts Exchange, sponsored annually by the Labor Heritage Foundation. The 28th annual arts exchange will take place June 18-20 at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.
When: Friday, June 2, from 8 to 11 p.m. Where: The Potter's House (1658 Columbia Rd. NW) More info: Susan Holleran at 202/637-3963; admission is $10
DC Metro Action is published by Michael Schlesinger, a 32-year veteran of electoral and issue organizing who is committed to social justice and to increasing participation in the political process.
All original content (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Michael Schlesinger
Code Pink needs you on Wednesday evenings for one hour to stand on the corner, share a moment of pink, and spread peace across our cities and towns! Wednesday Women Vigils for Peace take place around the country and maybe even the world between the hours of 5 to 7 every Wednesday evening."
